Ximen Qing (西门庆) falls into a prolonged and painful illness. His lower body swells and he suffers severe urinary distress. Wu Yue-niang (吴月娘) and Meng Yulou (孟玉楼) keep vigil. They question Pan Jinlian (潘金莲) and the servants about the master's last night. Pan Jinlian denies wrongdoing. Under pressure Dai'an (玳安) and Qin Tong (琴童) reveal late-night drinking and visits to other houses. The household accuses outside entanglements of ruining his health. Several physicians fail to cure him. Plasters and changed prescriptions only bring more torment. In despair Wu Yue-niang seeks a soothsayer and makes vows at an altar. Ximen Qing, roused by nightmares of past victims, entrusts his businesses to Chen Jingji (陈敬济) and gives detailed orders. He warns to watch shipments and to settle accounts to protect the estate. Despite care and counsel from Ying Bojue (应伯爵) and others, his condition worsens. On a final dawn he dies at thirty three. The death plunges the house into immediate disorder. While servants buy a coffin and arrange mourning, Wu Yue-niang unexpectedly gives birth to a healthy son. Grief and joy collide. In the confusion Li Jiao'er (李娇儿) steals several ingots from an open chest. Li Zhi (李智) uses a returned permit to press claims and provoke a quarrel over debts. He pacifies opponents by bribery. Guests and hangers-on gather. Some like He Qianhu (何千户) offer formal duty and protection. Others seek advantage. Ying Bojue and his friends take residence among the mourners to secure food and lodging. Chen Jingji takes a private meeting with Pan Jinlian. The wake exposes opportunism, bribery and illicit affairs. The episode closes with unsettled business and shredded morals. It presents a household unraveling under sickness, death and human greed. FREE transcripts of the audio files are available for download at: https://www.truelake.com/qrpages/pingshufreedownloads/

西门庆病情日益加重，腰膝以下浮肿难忍，吴月娘与孟玉楼在闺阁与园中反复祈祷设香案。家中首先盘问潘金莲与下人夜间去处。潘金莲狡辩推诿，玳安与琴童在反复逼问下供出往绒线楼与他人家往来。众人愤怒。诸方请医无力回天，换过数家大夫与膏药反引剧痛。吴月娘又请相法招魂，举家祈愿许愿。病中西门庆时醒时诞，说见亡魂索命，遂将家产细项交付陈敬济嘱托后事，并交待监视货船以防人诈。终至一日夜半病甚，临终交代后事后逝世，年三十三。灵柩未定，丧事仓促。恰在混乱中吴月娘产下胖儿，家中一悲一喜参半。办丧之际有人趁乱盗取元宝，又有李智借批文与债务纠纷挑动纷争，靠金钱收买息事宁人。应伯爵等人在府中盘桓。陈敬济与潘金莲趁机幽会。由病至死，及葬后事，家中人情冷暖、趋利图私、贿赂偷盗一一暴露。故事以死亡与家务紊乱收束，隐含家道将败与人性败坏之征兆。 音频文件的字幕稿可在以下网址免费下载： https://www.truelake.com/qrpages/pingshufreedownloads/